Ekitike blanks out football entirely to cope with Achilles injury as Nunez return rumours are dismissed

Hugo Ekitike is managing the psychological toll of a ruptured Achilles tendon by mentally erasing football from his life, while Liverpool have distanced themselves from claims that former striker Darwin Nunez is set to return to the club as a free agent.

The 23-year-old Frenchman suffered the injury during Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain in April, with subsequent tests confirming the severity of the damage. Surgery has ruled him out for the remainder of the calendar year, ending any realistic hope of forcing his way into France’s 2026 World Cup squad after what had been an impressive goalscoring season at Anfield.

According to French outlet L’Equipe, Ekitike has been left in “immense pain” since the setback and, in an effort to protect his mental health, has chosen to act as though football “ceased to exist.” The approach appears to be working: Liverpool are said to be pleased with the progress he has made in his recovery so far.

Ekitike addressed his situation on social media shortly after the diagnosis was confirmed. “It’s hard, maybe even unfair,” he wrote. “But I’m grateful this is happening to me here, among you. I’m not alone.”

The striker’s prolonged absence has left Liverpool notably short of options in the forward line, adding urgency to new head coach Andoni Iraola’s summer recruitment plans. The former Bournemouth manager inherited a squad already stretched by injuries and departures, and replacing Mohamed Salah remains the club’s headline transfer priority heading into the new season.

Against that backdrop, reports emerging from Uruguay briefly offered what appeared to be a ready-made solution: the return of Darwin Nunez. Respected Uruguayan journalist Martin Charquero claimed on social media that Liverpool were preparing to re-sign the 27-year-old on a free transfer, with an announcement reportedly timed for after Uruguay’s World Cup campaign. The story spread rapidly online.

However, Liverpool moved quickly to pour cold water on the speculation, with sources close to the club indicating there is no substance to the claims. Nunez departed Anfield after a mixed spell in which his energy and work rate won over supporters but his finishing remained inconsistent, and the club’s current recruitment focus appears to lie elsewhere.